Adverse Childhood Experiences
Conditions
Keywords
Adverse Childhood Experiences, Psychosocial Functioning, Emotion Regulation, Social Information Processing, Online self-help
Brief summary
The FACE self-help app is an online intervention for young adults with Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). It was developed based on well-established cognitive-behavioural therapy principles. The self-help app contains two components, one targeting emotion regulation (ER), the other social information processing (SIP).
Detailed description
The FACE self-help app is an online intervention for young adults with Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). It was developed based on well-established cognitive-behavioural therapy principles. The self-help app contains two components, one targeting emotion regulation (ER), the other social information processing (SIP). The goal of the present study is to evaluate the efficacy of the FACE self-help app, which aims to foster resilience and improve well-being by enhancing emotion regulation, social skills and minimizing biases in social information processing. The primary objective is to examine the efficacy of the FACE self-help app for improving resilience and well-being in young adults with a history of ACEs compared to a waiting list control group and to examine the stability of a possible effect. Secondary objectives are to test 1. the differential efficacy of the self- and emotion regulation and the social skills and social information processing component 2. the effects of the FACE self-help app on real life data in affective states, social interactions, the use of coping strategies and state resilience. To assess real life data, additionally to questionnaires (Q), an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) will be conducted in three one-week episodes, with 6 daily assessments each. Procedures: After giving informed consent, participants will receive the online questionnaires and one week of EMA (t0, week 1). Then, participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention or waiting list control group. Within the intervention group, participants are randomly assigned to start with the ER or SIP component. After 5 weeks of using the first component of the FACE self-help app, participants fill out the intermediate measure (t1, week 7). After another week of EMA, the next component (ER or SIP) of the self-help app is available for 5 weeks. Subsequently, the post-measurement and the last EMA period start (t2, week 13). This results in a total intervention period of 11 weeks. A follow-up measure will be conducted after another 11 weeks (t4, week 25). Participants will receive online guidance from trained e-coaches.
Interventions
DEVICEFACE self-help App
The FACE self-help app was developed based on well-established non-invasive psychological principles that have been used in other web-based self-help interventions. The app consists of two component, emotion regulation and social information processing/social skills with four modules each. Each module includes readings describing scientific knowledge about ACEs and ACEs related topics, as well as exercises to encourage participants to actively reflect on what was learned in the readings and to apply their knowledge and practice skills. Each module is divided in several submodules that include readings and exercises.
Sponsors
University of Bern
Jeannette Brodbeck
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 25 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Self-reported ACEs * An informed consent * The possession of a smartphone * Mastery of the German language. * Age between 18 and 25
Exclusion criteria
* Inability to follow the procedures of the study, e.g., due to comprehension problems, visual impairment, lack of sufficient motor skills or severe psychological or somatic disorders which require immediate treatment which impedes the continuous work on the self-help programme. These points will be discussed with the participant in the screening telephone call. * Acute suicidality.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Resilience | at week 13, t2 (post-measurement) | Resilience will be assessed with the German version (Sarubin et al., 2015) of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) (Connor & Davidson, 2003). The scale contains 10 items that are rated on a 5-point scale from 0 - Not true at all to 4 - True nearly all the time. A higher score indicates more resilience. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Problem-Solving | at week 13, t2 (post-measurement) | Problem-solving will be assessed with German version (Graf, 2003) of the short form of the Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Revised (SPSI-R) (D'Zurilla et al., 2002).The scale contains 25 items that are rated on a 5-point scale from 0 - not at all true to 4 - extremely true. The scale contains 5 subscales: positive problem orientation, negative problem orientation, rational problem-solving, impulsive style, avoidance style. A higher score indicates a higher orientation on each subscale. |
| Stability of decrease in fear of negative evaluation | at week 24, t4 (follow-up) | Fear of Negative Evaluation will be assessed with the German short version of the fear of Negative Evaluation Scale (SANB-5) (Kemper et al., 2012). The scale contains 5 items that are rated on a 4-point likert scale from 1 - almost never true to 4- almost always true. A higher score indicates more fear of negative evaluation. |
| Stability of decrease in social avoidance | at week 24, t4 (follow-up) | Social avoidance will be assessed with the subscale social-behavioral avoidance from the German version of the cognitive-behavioral avoidance scale (KBVS) (Röthlin et al., 2010). The subscale contains 8 items that are rated on a 5-point likert scale from 1 - not at all applicable for me to 5 - absolutely applicable for me. A higher score indicates more social avoidance. |
| Stability of improvement in problem-solving | at week 24, t4 (follow-up) | Problem-solving will be assessed with German version (Graf, 2003) of the short form of the Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Revised (SPSI-R) (D'Zurilla et al., 2002). The scale contains 25 items that are rated on a 5-point scale from 0 - not at all true to 4 - extremely true. The scale contains 5 subscales: positive problem orientation, negative problem orientation, rational problem-solving, impulsive style, avoidance style. A higher score indicates a higher orientation on each subscale. |
| Stability of improvement in self-esteem | at week 24, t4 (follow-up) | Self-esteem will be assessed with the German version (Collani & Herzberg, 2003) of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965). The scale contains 10 items that are rated on a 4-point scale from 1 - not at all true to 4 - extremely true. A higher score indicates more self-esteem. |
| Stability of improvement in resilience | at week 24, t4 (follow-up) | Resilience will be assessed with the German version (Sarubin et al., 2015) of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) (Connor & Davidson, 2003). The scale contains 10 items that are rated on a 5-point scale from 0 - Not true at all to 4 - True nearly all the time. A higher score indicates more resilience. |
| Well-being | at week 13, t2 (post-measurement) | Well-being will be assessed with the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) (Tennant et al., 2007). The scale contains 14 items that are rated on a 5-point scale from 1 - never to 5 - always. A higher score indicates better well-being. |
| Emotion Regulation | at week 13, t2 (post-measurement) | Self-Efficacy for Managing Emotions will be assessed with the PROMIS Short Form v1.0 - Self-Efficacy for Managing Emotions (PROMIS, 2022). The scale contains 7 items that are rated on a 5-point scale from 1 - never to 5 - always. A higher score indicates better emotion regulation skills. |
| Fear of Negative Evaluation | at week 13, t2 (post-measurement) | Fear of Negative Evaluation will be assessed with the German short version of the fear of Negative Evaluation Scale (SANB-5) (Kemper et al., 2012). The scale contains 5 items that are rated on a 4-point likert scale from 1 - almost never true to 4- almost always true. A higher score indicates more fear of negative evaluation. |
| Social Avoidance | at week 13, t2 (post-measurement) | Social avoidance will be assessed with the subscale social-behavioral avoidance from the German version of the cognitive-behavioral avoidance scale (KBVS) (Röthlin et al., 2010). The subscale contains 8 items that are rated on a 5-point likert scale from 1 - not at all applicable for me to 5 - absolutely applicable for me. A higher score indicates more social avoidance. |
| Self-Esteem | at week 13, t2 (post-measurement) | Self-esteem will be assessed with the German version (Collani & Herzberg, 2003) of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965). The scale contains 10 items that are rated on a 4-point scale from 1 - not at all true to 4 - extremely true. A higher score indicates more self-esteem. |
| Stability of improvement in well-being | at week 24, t4 (follow-up) | Well-being will be assessed with the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) (Tennant et al., 2007). The scale contains 14 items that are rated on a 5-point scale from 1 - never to 4 - always. A higher score indicates better well-being. |
| Stability of improvement in emotion regulation | at week 24, t4 (follow-up) | Self-Efficacy for Managing Emotions will be assessed with the PROMIS Short Form v1.0 - Self-Efficacy for Managing Emotions (PROMIS, 2022). The scale contains 7 items that are rated on a 5-point scale from 1 - never to 5 - always. A higher score indicates better emotion regulation skills. |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Momentary coping | three one week periods with 6 measurements a day (t0, t1, t2) | The items of the coping scale were developed by this research team on the basis of previous research (Daros et al., 2019). They measure different emotion regulation and coping strategies such as reappraisal, avoidance or changing the situation. |
| Momentary burden | three one week periods with 6 measurements a day (t0, t1, t2) | These items were developed by this research team as an addition to the emotion regulation items based on feedback from a user testing group. The participants indicate how burdened they feel in different areas.The scale contains 6 items (school/work, family, friends, feelings/thoughts, difficult memories, leisure time) that are rated on a 7-point scale from 0 - not at all to 6 - extremely. Furthermore, participants can indicate burdens in other areas. |
| Momentary social interactions | three one week periods with 6 measurements a day (t0, t1, t2) | These items were developed by this research team. The Items explore the participants emotional state in the last social situation, for example how happy a person felt in the interaction. First, participants are asked, if they had a social interaction since the last measurement. If participants indicate an interaction, there are 7 follow-up questions about how the participant felt in this interaction. The scale contains 7 items (stressed, well, anxious, understood, irritated, insecure, happy) that are rated on a 7-point scale from 0 - not at all to 6 - extremely. |
| Participant satisfaction | at week 13, t2 (post-measurement) | The ZUF-8 is a self-report measure that explores patients' overall satisfaction with the treatment (Schmidt et al., 1989). For this study, the instrument was adapted to explore patients' satisfaction with the Internet intervention studied in this trial. The scale contains eight items that are rated on a 4-point scale from 1 - low satisfaction to 4 - high satisfaction. A higher score indicates more satisfaction with the online intervention. The German version of the ZUF-8 showed adequate psychometric properties with good internal consistency, construct validity, and concurrent validity (Schmidt et al., 1989). |
| Momentary affect | three one week periods with 6 measurements a day (t0, t1, t2) | The scale is an abbreviated version of the PANAS following previous research, that used similar EMA items (Oorschot et al., 2013; Wichers et al., 2012). |
Countries
Switzerland
Outcome results
None listed